You Can't Always Get Want You Want...But You Get What You Need

Introduction

Is it just me, or does life seem more complicated now than ever before? If we are to trust commercials on television, we need to have the fanciest sports care, the newest technological gadgets, the biggest televions. We really need to show the world that we are wealthy. And if we cannot be wealthy, than we need to share the most inspiring, perhaps radical insights on social media to make us somehow popular, or powerful. In either case, we are set up for failure. The more things we have, the more things we want. The more fame we acquire, the more attention we want. It’s a never ending circle and often ends in failure. In fact, at the end of our earthly lives, we can’t take our stuff with us. We can’t bring our cell phones with us. Fame and forture are ultimately temporary.

There is a way to put those earthly focuses aside: You can’t always get want you want…but you can get what you need.

It’s not easy. I’ll tell you that right up front. But it is important. We can break the commericalism “curse”. We can stop the circular desire to be more popular. I sugges that the answers can be found in today’s Gospel reading. It’s a continuation of our study on Jesus Sermon on the Plain. What Jesus is asking of us certainly is difficult. It may seem impossible. We are to love our enemies, and do good to those who dislike us, who in fact may hate us. It requires us to go against societal norms, to step out of our comfort zones. It truly moves us towards the plan God has for us.

Reading

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:27-38

Feeling Powerless…You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Luke’s summary of events challenged the early followers of Jesus to think beyong the society in which they lived. It made them think about being both a follower of God, and citizens of the cities, empires, countries in which they resided. Jesus’ teaching is relevant both then and now. His thoughts on wealth and possessions, and loving each other may seem simple, if not imposssible.

Are you feeling powerless when confronted with wealth or priviledge? Are you feeling powerless watching demontrations unfold in our nation and beyond; fearful such activities will lead to violence and social upheavel? We are not asked to simply roll over and accept defeat. We are not asked to accept violent actions. Jesus tells us to actively do something about it…do something unexpected. If we face the hostility, interupt, say somehting to stop the activity, violent activities can subside.

Do good to those who aren’t followers of God

Pray for those who don’t follow God’s ways

Do not judge. Do not condemn. Forgive.

Realize that wealth and possessions are temporary things. Fame and popularity are temporary things. Learn to be content with what you have. Learn to stand up for what is right. Learn to love your enemies. It’s not easy. It may seem impossible. The eternal rewards

Do Not Condemn

Feeling contentment…You Can Always Get What You Need

Realize that wealth and possessions are temporary things. Fame and popularity are temporary things. Learn to be content with what you have. Learn to stand up for what is right. Learn to love your enemies. It’s not easy. It may seem impossible. In the end the eternal rewards will far outweigh any earthly possessions, or happiness acquired. Paul reminds us:

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable 1 Corinthians 15:42-50

Conclusion

"Love your enemies" may seem to be an impossible command to carry out.

The gospel may be “good news” for us all, it is not always “easy news” for those called to follow. Jesus points his followers then and now toward a narrow and difficult path illuminated only by grace, but it is one that rewards us in ways we can hardly imagine. VAUGHN CROWE-TIPTON

Prayer

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret —it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. Psalms 37:3-9